5 Tips for a More Organized New Year!

Yes, yes, New Year’s was almost a month ago … no one is judging here … and honestly, getting organized doesn’t have to start on January 1^stor any particular day for that matter. Life gets busy, and sometimes it’s hard to know where or how to start.

If your holiday decorations are still lurking in a corner (like mine were just a few days ago) or your “fresh New Year start” hasn’t happened yet, don’t worry—you’re not alone.

In fact, I’ve been meaning to write a New Year’s post for a bit as in December I was featured in ApartmentGuide’s article, How to Store Holiday Decorations Efficiently: Tips for Organized Storage, where I and many peer organizers shared our favourite tips.

So today I’m providing a few practical, doable organizing strategies (including my featured tip) that will help you hit “refresh” for 2025– so we can all start simplifying today – regardless of the date on our calendar!

TIP #1: Start Small and Tackle One Area at a Time

Overwhelm is the #1 reason most people procrastinate getting organized. Instead of trying to conquer your entire house in one weekend, pick one manageable area to focus on. For example:

The Holiday Decor Zone: If your decorations are still out (or shoved into random boxes), now’s the perfect time to pack them up properly. As I mentioned in the article, clear plastic, stackable containers work best for this. They come in a variety of different sizes to keep your valuables safe while protecting them from dust, moisture, and/or curious pets.

TIP #2: **Declutter Before You Organize**

Before you start putting things in bins, ask yourself: do I even need this? Go through your holiday decorations, pantry items, and even your desk drawers, and let go of anything that’s broken, expired, or no longer brings you joy. Less stuff = less stress.

TIP #3: Create Systems That Work for You

The best organizing system is the one you’ll actually use. If stacking containers feels too complicated, try shelving units. If digital calendars overwhelm you, stick to a paper planner. The key is to find solutions that fit YOUR lifestyle—not someone else’s Pinterest-perfect idea. (Though, Pinterest is a great place to get inspiration and ideas from!) 🙂

TIP #4: Make Organizing a Habit

Once you’ve cleared the clutter and set up systems, the next big step is ongoing maintenance. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day to tidy up, and use your weekend to refresh spaces, or revisit areas that tend to get messy. Consistency is key and what keeps chaos at bay! And when it comes time when you need to tweak your systems to evolve with your needs and lifestyle changes, your consistency will help make this process less overwhelming and challenging.

TIP #5: Remember, It’s Never Too Late to Start

Getting organized isn’t about being perfect; it’s about making your life easier. Whether you’re still packing up tinsel or just thinking about tackling that junk drawer, small steps can lead to big changes.

Taking that first step is a huge accomplishment! Once you start, you will begin to feel better and will be encouraged to keep decluttering, removing items that don’t serve you anymore and ultimately creating the organized spaces you deserve.

And if you want a little extra inspiration and suggestions, remember to check out ApartmentGuide’s article where I (along with other organizing peers) shared tips for holiday storage:

How to Store Holiday Decorations Efficiently: Tips for Organized Storage

BONUS: many of the tips in the article can be applied to almost any organization project.

By using a sequence of organizing tips, you will quickly get in control of your clutter and the distractions that are keeping you from doing the things you want and love to do. You will start to feel better and be more in control of your day.

Just take it step-by-step, start with a tip that resonates with you and try additional ones as you create new habits for yourself.

You’ve GOT this!

Hugs!!